The event is being held in celebration of both the 60th Anniversary of Robinson’s re-integration of professional baseball and Protective Life Insurance Company's 100th Anniversary.

On Friday, April 13 from 1-4 p.m. Peter Roby, Director of the Center for the Study of Sports in Society, will moderate a panel discussion designed for parents, teachers, students and coaches on “Blacks in the Mainstream” at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

In addition to Barkley, Davis and Humphrey, other panelists include Ken Hudson, first Black NBA referee; Floyd Keith, President of the Black Coaches Association; and Byron R. Perkins, attorney with the Cochran Firm and legal expert on athletic contracts.

An outdoor festival from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 at BCRI and Kelly Ingram Park will focus on the former Negro League Baseball players and feature Larry Lester, a Negro League Baseball historian, a theatrical tribute to Blacks in professional sports, autographs from Negro League Baseball players, food, games and more.

BCRI is located at 520 Sixteenth Street North, Birmingham. Both the panel discussion and outdoor festival are free and open to the public.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Friday, April 13, 2007

Public Discussion

1:00 P.M.- 4:00 P.M.

Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC) East Meeting Room M

1 Civic Center Plaza

Birmingham, Alabama

1:00 P.M.                            

Welcome         Angela Fisher Hall

                     Executive Assistant to the President

                                     Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 

Greetings        Kate Cotton

                    Vice President

                     Community Relations & Executive Director

                    Protective Life Foundation

Program Overview   Ahmad Ward

                           Head of Education

                           Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

1:10 P.M.- 1:30 P.M.

“Remembering The Contribution of Jackie Robinson: African Americans in Sports Before 1947"

Presenter: Peter Roby, Director

      Center for the Study of Sport in Society, Northeastern University

1:35 P.M. – 1:50 P.M.

"When Integration Came--The Consequences of Blacks in the Mainstream"

Presenter:  Larry Lester, President

            NoirTech Research, Inc. and Negro Leagues Baseball Authority

2:00 - 4:00 P.M. 

"Blacks In The Mainstream: The Challenges and Successes of Blacks in Professional Sports"

This panel discussion will focus on several issues including:

• The struggle for respect as Black players, coaches and officials.
• Society's view of the Black athlete
• Hiring practices for head coaching positions
• The lack of minority ownership
• Personal viewpoints for the future

PANEL DISCUSSION

Moderator: Peter Roby, Director

                Center for the Study of Sport in Society, 

                 Northeastern University

Panelists:   Charles Barkley, Retired NBA Player, TNT Sports Commentator

                Byron Perkins, Managing Attorney, The Cochran Firm (Birmingham) and Co-Counsel to the Fritz Pollard Alliance (a national organization promoting diversity in the NFL)

                Mike Davis, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

                Ken Hudson, First Black NBA Referee, Former Coca-Cola USA Executive

                         Bobby Humphrey, Retired NFL Player, Former Head Coach Birmingham Steeldogs Arena Football Team